Alleviation of Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rat Model by Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae) Leaf Extract

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a category of chronic inflammatory intestinal disease of unknown origin. Some medicinal plants have been used as therapeutic targets for UC, however, there is a paucity of information on the use of Vernonia amygdalina leaves.

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of aqueous extract of V. amygdalina leaves (AEVA) on experimental rat models of ulcerative colitis.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Animal House, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, between September 2016 and November 2018.

Methodology: Twenty-four rats equally divided into six groups were used for the study. A control group received only drinking water while UC was induced by transrectal infusion of 1 ml of 4% acetic acid into rats in 5 groups. UC-model rats were given no further treatment whereas the other four treatment groups received a single oral daily dose of sulfasalazine (SSZ, 225 mg/kg), 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) of AEVA for seven days. The rats were, thereafter, weighed and sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia. The distal colon of each rat was excised, weighed, and examined both macroscopically and microscopically. Histopathological grading was conducted to determine the extent of the injury.

Results: Results revealed severe inflammatory cellular infiltration, mucosal erosion, and ulceration in the UC-model rats. However, a dose-dependent reduction in the colonic lesions was observed following treatment with AEVA and the most potent dose was 200 mg/kg b.wt.

Conclusion: The present study has indicated that the aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaves mitigates AA-induced ulcerative colitis and hence may be offered as a potential therapeutic agent.